Photo by Vinny Tennis
Evidence markers locate bullet casings at the scene of a shooting in the 500 block of Victoria Drive in Coatesville on Tuesday.

COATESVILLE — A 14-year-old boy was taken to Paoli Hospital after he was likely struck by a stray bullet during a shooting Tuesday afternoon in the 500 block of Victoria Drive.

According to Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer, investigators believed the teen was struck by a stray bullet while standing inside his home. The bullet went through a window, Laufer said.

The teen was hit once in the abdomen. He was conscious and alert when transported to the hospital, Laufer said. The victim, who was not identified, was listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injury.

Investigators with the Coatesville Police Department collected multiple shell casings from the street and canvassed the neighborhood to interview neighbors after shots were fired shortly before 5 p.m.

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Laufer said multiple caliber shell casings were recovered, leading investigators to believe that more than one shooter was involved.

The crime scene, centered in a quiet family apartment complex, was surrounded by playing children as investigators worked to determine what led to the shooting.

“I just thank God my kids weren’t playing outside when it happened,” one neighbor said. “We thought this was a nice quiet neighborhood.”

The neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she heard the sounds of multiple gunshots from inside her home. Neighbors stood on sidewalks, watching children play near yellow police tape as investigators collected evidence and news choppers circled overhead.

“It’s a concern, considering the time of day this happened and the number of children nearby,” said Coatesville Lt. James Audette.

Nearly 10 spent shell casings were found lying on the pavement about 100 feet from where the teen was hit. Investigators also examined a car parked near the spot where the shells were found. Two of the car’s tires were flat.

“Craziness, all these kids be up here,” one man said while walking by the scene.

Police did not have any immediate information about possible suspects.

Though Victoria Drive and the surrounding streets in the Regency Family Apartments appear to be a quiet and safe neighborhood, Tuesday’s shooting was not the first of its kind in recent months.

In December a man was shot during an armed home invasion in the 300 block of Victoria Drive, just feet from where Tuesday’s shooting took place. At the time police said two victims inside the home were targeted by two men armed with handguns.

Anyone with information related to Tuesday’s shooting is asked to contact the Coatesville Police Department at 610-384-2400 or by using the department’s confidential tip application by texting 847411 with the keyword “Coatesville.”